Feeler mechanism for looms



F. LACEY. FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION man AUG, 19. 1919.

UNITED STATES raranr QEFIQE,

FEED LAOEY, 03F LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER CORPORATION, OF HOIPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A. CORPORATIDN 0F MAINE.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRED LACEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in lfeeler Mechanism for Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to .feeler mechanisms for looms, whereby upon occurrence of substantial exhaustion of the filling in the shuttle, a fresh supply is automatically furnished.

In one type of feeler mechanism heretofore suggested, the feeler has had an engaging end portion which on detecting beats would engage the filling in the shuttle and be held from movement longitudinally of the shuttle until substantial exhaustion of the filling, but when the filling reacheda condition of substantial exhaustion, the feeler was given a movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle to effect replenishment of filling.

The feeler mechanism of this invention relates to this general type, and has for its object to provide a feeler mechanism of the so-called side swipe type wherein the feeler may be lightly held in its rearward position by a yielding spring that will have no injurious effectupon the filling, and also wherein the feeler will impart to a feeler moving member, movements tending to move the feelcr in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted.

The 'feeler moving member is preferably formed, in the present instance, as a swinging member or lever having one end portion connected to the feeler by a spring which is placed under tension by frontward movement of the teeler, and is relaxed when the teeler member moves rearwardly.

The above and other features of the invention will best be understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings which show one good practical form of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the detecting side of the loom. with the present invention applied thereto, and disclosing Specification of Letters Patent. F Q- p d D 1920- Application filed August 19, 1919.

Serial No. 318,472.

suiiicient of the parts to make clear the association of the invention therewith;

If 1g. 2 is a plan view in detail showing the action of the feeler mechanism when, on a detecting beat the filling is substantially exhausted;

Fig. 3 is a section taken through the pivotal mounting for securing the feeler car rier to the feeler stand; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the feeler mechanism.

The loom f *ame 1 may be of suitable char acter for supporting the operating parts, and has connected thereto the brackets 2, one at each side or the loom frame for supporting the transverse or rock shaft 3, which is normally under the influence ot' a spring (not shown) tending to turn it contraclockwise (Fig. 1).

Secured to and extending from the transverse shaft 8 is the arm 4 to which is pivotally connected the block 5 having pivotally jointed thereto at 6 the actuator 7, the rear end portion 8 of which is adapted at times to be engaged by an operating member 9 which may be either the weft hammer or cam follower, or a part connected or associated therewith, the construction being such that when filling replenishment is to be effected, the end 8 of the actuator '7 will be placed in the path of the operating member 9 to cause rocking movement of the trans verse shaft 3 clockwise, and through such rocking movement to effect replenishment of filling through a well known train of mechanism.

The shipper stand 10 has adjustably connected thereto by the bolt 11 the feeler stand or support 12 which. in the present instance of the invention, is formed as a plate, to which is pivotally connected at 13 the feeler carrier 14, the construction being such that the feeler carrier may swing laterally or in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle. In the present instance of the invention, the feeler carrier 14 has the downwardly extending lug 15 into which may be tapped the screw 15 for holding the feeler carrier and feeler stand in operative relation with capacity of the feeler (carrieufol' pivotal movement.

The teeler carrier 14 has the rear bearing 16 and the, front bcaring 17 in which is mounted for reciprocation toward and from which and the rear surface of the front bearing 17 is interposed a spring 21 normally tending to move the feeler 18 rearwardly with permissive movement frontwardly.

Associated with the feeler 18 is a feeler moving member which, in the present instance of the invention, consists of the swinging lever having positive connection with the feeler to be actuated thereby as the feeler moves frontwardly and rearwardly. One good form of the feeler moving member consists of a lever 22 pivoted at 23 to a lug 24 extending laterally from the feeler'stand 12. Extending from the lever 22 is an arm 25 having a slot 26 which is engaged by a pin or roller 27 carried by the feeler 18, the construction being such that when the feeler moves frontwardly orrearwardly, the positive connection between the arm 25 and feeler member, causes the latter to swing the feeler moving member or lever 22 upon its pivot.

Swiveled or pivoted to one end of the feeler moving member or lever 22 at 28 is a rod or pin 29 which'extends laterally relative to the feeler and passes loosely through a lug 3O rising from the feeler carrier 14. Interposed between the swivel connection of the arm or rod 29 with the feeler moving member or lever 22 and the lug 30 is the spring 31 which is normally not under tension when the feeler is in its rearward position as indicated in Fig. 1. The spring adjacent the lug 30 maybe attached to a sliding collar 32 which, when the lever 22 is turned clockwise on its pivot. viewing Fig. 1, the collar32 will bear against the projection or lug 30, and upon further movement of the lever 22 in the same direction, the spring 31 will he placed under compression as the rod 29 slides through the lug 30 and tend to move the feeler 18 in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle.

The feeler moving member or lever 22 has an end portion 33 which is adapted to bear against a stop or lug 34 projecting from the feeler carrier 14. the construction being such that when the feeler is moved rearwardly, and the lever 22 is swung upon its pivot 23 in a contra-clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 1, the end portion 33 will bear against the lug or projection 34 and tend to swing the feeler carrier and perforce the feeler laterally or in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle. A stop 35 may be provided on the feeler stand for limiting the lateral swinging movement of the feeler carrier as it is moved by the end 33 of the lever 22.

The feeler, through the feeler carrier. is connected'to the actuator T by means of a link or rod 36, one end of which is connected to the feeler carrier at 37, and the other end of which is connected to the actuator at 38, the construction being such that upon lateral movement of the feeler or feeler carrier, the actuator T will be correspondingly moved to place its end 8 either in or out of the path of movement of the operating member 9.

The lay 39 may be of usual construction and provided with the shuttle-box 40. the front wall of which may be provided with an opening 41 to register with the corresponding opening 42 in the front wall of the shuttle 43 when the latter is in the detecting box, the parts being arranged so that upon a detecting beat the feeler 18 will pass through the slots 41 and 42 and feel for the filling.

The feeler operating member or lever 22, as hereinbefore described. is pivoted to the feeler stand or an appropriate support adjacent the path of movement of the feeler member, and one end. in the present instance. the rear end of the moving member or lever 22 is yieldingly connected to the feeler through the feeler carrier ata point rearwardly of the pivotal connection between the feeler carrier and feeler stand, and the other end 33'of the moving member or lever 22 has a bearing against the feeler carrier frontwardly of the pivotal connection 13 between the feeler carrier and feeler stand.

In Fig. 4 a somewhat modified form of 'the feeler moving member is shown. In

this case the feeler moving member consists of a lever -44 pivoted to the feeler stand at feeler moving member or lever 44 is normally under the influence of a spring 46, one end of which is connected with the rearwardly extending arm of the lever 44 at 47. and the other end of which is connected to a fixed point at 48. the tendency of the 2 spring being to turn the lever 44 clockwise in the illustrated form. Extending from the rear portion of the feeler moving member 44 is the pin 49 which is under the influence of a spring 50 tending to project the pin 49 and cause it to normally bear upon a lug 51 extending from the feeler carrier 14 which. as hereinbefore described for the preferred construction is pivotally mounted at 13 on the feeler stand. The

eeann carrier on its pivotal mounting in a contraclockwise direction. On rearward movement of the feeler 18 the feeler moving member will be moved in the opposite direction. in the modification shown by Fig. i. it will be noted that the feeler is not provided with a spring acting directly upon it.

but that it is moved toward its rearwardposition and held in such position by the spring 46 acting through the feeler moving member 44.

lVhen a working supply of filling is present on a detecting beat, the toothed or roughened end 19 of the feeler will ,engage the filling, and the feeler will be moved frontwardly, thereby turning the feeler moving member and tending through the feeler moving member to effect movement of the feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle. Under the conditions stated, however, movement of the feeler will be prevented by the filling. lVhen, however, the filling is substantially exhausted and no longer able to hold the feeler from movement longitudinally of the-shuttle, the feeler will be given such movement through the feelermoving member as the feeler moves frontwardly, and thereby efiect replenishment of filling.

What is claimed is 1. In a teeler' mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand or support, a feeler carrier pivotally. mounted on the stand or support to swing in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, means for effecting re plenishment of filling connected to the feeler carrier, a feeler mounted on the teeler carrier for movement toward and from the front of the-loom, a feeler moving member pivotally mounted on the feeler stand or support and engaging the feeler carrier at two points, one in front of and the other in rear ct the pivot of the feeler carrier, an arm extending from the feeler moving member between said two points, and a slotted connection between the-arm and feeler and tending on reciprocation of the feeler to move it first in one and then in the opposite direction longitudinally of the shuttle.

' 2. in a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand or support, a feeler carrier pivotally mounted on the stand or support to swing in a direction lon- ,gitudinally of the shuttle, means for effect ing replenishment of filling connected to the feeler carrier, a feeler mounted on the feeler carrier for movement toward and from the front of the loom, a spring normally acting to move the feeler rearwardly, a feeler moving member pivotally mounted on the feeler stand or support and engaging the feeler carrier at two points, one in front of and the other in rear of the pivot of the feeler carrier. an arm extending from the feeler moving member between said two points, and a slotted connection between the arm and teeler and tending on reciprocation of the teeler to move it first in one and then in the opposite direction longitudinally of the shuttle.

3. In a 'feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom and for swinging movement in a direction longitudinally or the shuttle, said feeler constructed and arranged to engage the filling on a detecting beat and to be held by the engagement therewith from such swinging movement until substantial exhaustion thereof, a pivotally mounted feeler-moving member connected to the feeler for swinging movement thereby as the feeler is moved frontwardly and rearwardly, a yielding connection interposed between one end of the moving member and feeler and placed under compression by frontward movement of the feeler and tending when under compression to swing the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle, and means for effecting replenishment of filling when the "feeler is thus moved on a detecting beat.

a. In a feeder mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom and for swinging movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, said feeler constructed and arranged to engage the filling on a detecting beat and to be held by the engagement therewith from such swinging movement until substantial exhaustion thereof, a pivotally mounted feelcr moving member connected to the feeler for swinging movement thereby as the teacher is teeler moves rearwardly.

5. in a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a teeler mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom and for swinging movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, said feeler constructed and arranged to engage the filling on a' detecting beat and to be held by the engagement therewith from such swinging movement by engagement with the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof, a pivotally mounted feeler moving member having a slotted arm connected to the feeler for swinging movement thereby as the feeler is moved frontwardly and rearwardly, a yielding connection interposed between one end of the moving member and feeler and placed under stress by frontward movement of the feeler and tending when under stress to swing the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle, and means for effecting replenishment of filling when the feeler is thus moved on a detecting beat.

6. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler that is mounted for movement toward and from the front of the 100m and in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle and is held from such longitudinal movement by the filling on a detecting beat until substantialexhaustion thereof,

' means connected to the feeler to effect replenishment of filling when it is substantially exhausted, a feeler moving member provided with an arm having a positive connection with the feeler, a spring interposed between the feeler and feeler moving Inem- I ber which is placed under stress by frontward movement of the feeler and operates to exert a force upon the feeler tending to move the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle and is relaxed by the rearward movement of -the feeler.

7. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler that is mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom and in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle and is held from such longitiidi'nal movement by the filling on a detecting beat until substantial exhaustion thereof, means connected to thefeeler to efl'ectreplenishment of filling when it is substantially exhausted, a pivotally mounted feeler moving member provided with an arm having a positive connection with the feeler, a spring interposed between the feelerv and feeler moving member which is energized by frontward movement of the feeler and operated to exert a force upon the feeler tending to move the feeler member longitudinally of the shuttle and is relaxed by the rearward movement of the feeler.

8. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand, afeeler carrier mounted on the stand to swing in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, a feeler slidably mounted on the feeler carriei for movement toward and from the front of the loom, a feeler moving member having a same longitudinally of the shuttle, said I feeler constructed to engage the filling upon a detecting beat and to be held by the filling from moving longitudinally of the shuttle until substantial exhaustion of the filling, and means for effecting replenishment of filling when the feeler is moved longitudi nally of the shuttle.

9. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom and in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle and held from such longitudinal movement on a detecting beat by engagement with the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof, means for effecting replenishment of filling when the feeler is moved longitudinally of the shuttle, and a feeler moving member operatively connected to the feeler to be moved by a frontward and rearward movement thereof, and means operated by said feeler moving member tending to yieldingly move the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle to effect replenishment of filling as the feeler moves frontwardly and to move it positively in the opposite direction as the feeler moves rearwardl 10. n a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler that is mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom, a feeler moving lever connected to the feeler to be turned upon its fulcrum by frontward movement of the feeler, a spring between the feeler and the lever which is placed under stress tending to move the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle on a detecting' beat, and connections between the lever and feeler to restore the feeler tofeeling position as the feeler moves rearwardly.

11. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler that is mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom and is supported to swing laterally, a lever pivotally supported independently of the feeler, connections between the feeler and lever for turning the latter on its fulcrum as the feeler is moved frontwardly, a yielding connection between the lever and feeler tending to move the feeler laterally as the lever is swung by the frontward movement of the feeler, and parts between the lever and feeler which tend to move the feeler laterally in the reverse direction as the feeler moves rearwardly.

12. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler that is mounted for movement toward and from the front of the Leeann.

loom and is supported .to swing laterally, a lever pivotally supported independently of the feeler, connections between the feeler and vlever for turning the letter on its fulcrum as longitudinally of the shuttle on a detecting eat by engagement With the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof, a pivotally mounted i eeler moving member connected to the feeler to be swung about its pivotal mounting by frontward movement of the feeler, a spring which, by front/Ward movement of the feeler is made to exert a force tending to give the feeler its movement longitudinally of the shuttle and which becomes eliective for this purpose when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat.

in testimony whereof I have signed n13 name to this specification.

FRED LACEY, 

